Sainte Genevieve, thence towards the St Charles, over the meadow on which St Roch has since being built. I can remember the Scotch Highlanders flying wildly after us, with streaming plaids, bonnets and large swords-like so many infuriated demons— over the brow of the hill. In their course was a wood, in which we had some Indians and sharp-shooters, who bowled over the Sauvages d'Ecosse in fine style. Their partly naked bodies fell on their face, and their kilts in disorder left exposed a portion of their thighs, at which our fugitives, on passing bye, would make lunges with their swords, cutting large slices out of the fleshiest portion of their persons." The surrender of Quebec, after the death of the Marquis de Montcalm, is next chronicled by Mr Le Moine:: Chevalier Johnstone's Siege narratives also mention a French post on the Sillery heights, commanded by an officer of the name of Douglas-apparently a Scotchman. You will, no doubt, be surprised to hear of another Scotch name, within the precincts of the city before the capitulation, a high, very high official-in fact, the French Commandant of Quebec, Chevalier de Ramezay. The Lieutenant du Roy was Major de Ramezay, one of four brothers serving the French King, three of whom had devotedly fallen in his service. Major de Ramezay, for his services, had been decorated by Louis XV. with the cross of St Louis. His father, Claude de Ramezay, of the French navy, had been two years Governor of three Rivers, and twenty years Governor of Montreal under French rule; he died Governor of that city. Nor was there anything unsoldierly in de Ramezay's surrender on the 18th September 1759. It saved the despairing, devoted inhabitants from starvation, and the dismantled city from bombardment, sack, and pillage. The proceedings of the French Council of War, held before the capitulation and published under the auspices of this Society,* has done the French Commandant effectual, though tardy, justice." The following anecdote deserves mention :— During the winter of 1759-60, a portion of Fraser's Highlanders were quartered in the Ursulines Convent. Whether the absence of breeches on the brawny mountaineers was in the eyes of the good ladies a breach of decorum, or whether Christian charity impelled them to clothe the naked-especially during the January frosts, is hard to determine at the present time; certain it is that the nuns generously begged of Governor Murray to oe allowed to provide raiment for the barelegged sons of Caledonia. Also, a Canadian peasant aptly remarked of the kilt that he considered it trop frais pour l'hiver, et dangereux l'ete a cause des maringouins-that is to saytoo cool for winter, and dangerous in summer time on account of the mosquitoes. Referring to the action fought at St Foye on the 28th April 1760, between General Murray and General de Levi, Mr Le Moine quotes from his own Maple Leaves : With this old windmill (Dumont's) is associated one of the most thrilling episodes in the conflict. Some of the French Grenadiers and some of Fraser's Highlanders took, lost, and retook the mill three times, their respective officers looking on in mute astonishment and admiration; whilst a Scotch piper, who had been under arrest for bad conduct ever since the 13th September 1759, was piping away within hearing. Peace being soon after proclaimed, we learn that Fraser's Highlanders were disbanded in 1764, when a very large number of them settled in Canada. Mr Le Moine says: The countless clan of the Frasers, in the length and breadth of our land, retrace back to this grand old corps, their kinsfolk across the sea, and Simon Fraser's companions in arms, the Macdonalds, Campbells, Macdonells, Macphersons, Stewarts, Rosses, Murrays, Camerons, Menzies, Nairns, Munros, Mackenzies, Cuthberts, so deeply rooted in our soil." * Mémoire du Sieur de Ramezay, Commandant à Québec. A number of the old Fraser's Highlanders re-enlisted into the 84th or Royal Emigrant Regiment, when it was raised in 1775, on the outbreak of hostilities with the American colonies, along with men from the 42d and Montgomerie's Highlanders. The first battalion took part in the defence of Quebec against the Americans under Arnold and Montgomery, who were repulsed. The first battalion was reduced in Lower Canada in 1784, and the second in Nova Scotia the same year, when grants of land were allowed to the officers and men as follows:-A field officer, 5000 acres; a captain, 3000; a subaltern, 500; a sergeant, 200; a private, 100. Before quitting the military settlers of Canada, two deserve mention. The first is Sergeant James Thompson of Fraser's Highlanders, a big giant, who was at Louisbourg in 1758, and Quebec in 1759, and came from Tain, Scotland, to Canada as a volunteer to accompany a friend-Captain David Baillie of the 78th. His athletic frame, courage, integrity and intelligence, during the seventy-two years of his Canadian career, brought him employment, honour, trust and attention from every Governor of the Colony, from 1759 to 1830, when he expired at the family mansion, St Ursale Street, aged 98 years. At the battle of the Plains of Abraham, James Thompson, as hospital sergeant, was intrusted with the landing at Point Lévi of the wounded, who were crossed over in boats; he tells us of his carrying some of the wounded from the crossing at Lévi up the hill, all the way to the church at St Joseph converted into an hospital, and distant three miles from the present ferry: a six-foot giant alone could have been equal to such a task. In 1775, Sergeant Thompson, as overseer of Government Works, was charged with erecting the palisades and other primitive contrivances to keep out Brother Jonathan. The other is Sturdy old Hugh M'Quarters, the brave artillery sergeant, who at Pres-de-Ville, on that momentous 31st December 1775, applied the match to the cannon which con. signed to a snowy shroud Brigadier-General Richard Montgomery, his two aides, Macpherson and Cheeseman, and his brave, but doomed followers, some eleven in all, the rest having sought safety in flight. Old Hugh M'Quarters lived in Champlain Street and closed his career there, in 1812. Amongst other Scotch emigrants are the United Empire Loyalists, who in 1783 settled at the Baie des Chaleurs, at New Carlisle, at Sorel, and at Douglas, Gaspé Bay, where they founded a town. There are also many other places, settled voluntarily, or by private enterprise, such as Metis, which was settled by Mr J. M'Nider of Quebec, in 1823. Mr Le Moine gives sketches of some of the Scotch Governors, such as General Murray, Sir James Craig, Lord Dalhousie, Lord Elgin, and the Marquis of Lorne. Other notabilities are also mentioned, such as Sir William Grant, born at Elchies on the Spey, Attorney-General of Quebec, and afterwards Lord Chief-Justice of the Common Pleas and Master of the Rolls in England; Lieutenant-Governor Peter Hunter, "brother of two celebrated physicians, John and William Hunter," who died in 1805. Governor the Duke of Richmond, who died in 1819; the Rev. George Henry, military chaplain and the first Presbyterian minister; William Smith, Chief-Justice of Lower Canada, &c. Mr Le Moine's notes, appendices, &c., are very ably selected for the illustration of his arguments; and among our own well-known authors we find represented Skene's Highlanders, Brown's History of the Highlands, Stewart's Sketches, Logan's Scottish Gael, Burton's Scot Abroad, &c. Amongst other works, it will be sufficient to mention Garneau's History of Canada, Christie's History of Canada, Kirke's First English Conquest P of Canada, Rattray's Scot in British North America, Walrond's Letters of the Earl of Elgin, Le Moine's Maple Leaves, Jesuit's Journal, Journal du Siege de Quebec, Quebec Past and Present, &c. I have also personally to thank Mr Le Moine for the prominence he has given to some matter, with which I supplied him previously, relating to the capture of Quebec, and Highland soldiers wearing the kilt by choice; the latter subject has been extensively noticed by Mr Le Moine in his pamphlet. Amongst other matter there are lists of Jacques Cartier's crew, of noted Scotchmen of Montreal past and present, of British officers who have married in Canada, of principal marriages between British and French, of the Quebec Curling Club of 1838, and of the officers of the Quebec St Andrew's Society of 1836 and of the present day. At a St Andrew's dinner in 1837, Mr Archibald Campbell, "Her Majesty's Notary," sang a song urging his hearers to stick to the land their fathers conquered. verse runs Be men like those the hero brought, With their best blood the land was bought, The last Mention is also made of a famous Scotch dinner at Halifax, in 1814, where no less than fifty-two toasts were drank. The twenty-sixth may be repeated:" May James Madison and all his faction be soon compelled to resign the reins of government in America, and seek a peace establishment with their friend Bonaparte at Elba." Airs-"The Rogue's March," and "Go to the devil and shake yourself." In conclusion, Mr Le Moine after enumerating various leading Scots -Canadian merchants and litterateurs (amongst whom he includes Evan Maccoll)-he concludes as follows: The voice of a Neilson, a Galt, a Robertson, a Ross, an Ogilvie, in our Commons at Quebec, has responded to that of a Morris, a Macdougall, a Brown, a Mackenzie, a Macdonald, in the Supreme Council of the Nation at Ottawa. With such hopeful materials-such energetic factors, as the free, the sturdy Briton-the cultured descendant of the Norman-the self-reluctant Scot-the ardent Milesian, there exists in those fertile northern realms ruled over by England's gentle Queen, the component parts of a great commonwealth, which will gradually consolidate itself, with the modifications time may bring into the national organisation, under which Canadians of all creeds and origins may associate in a vast and liberty-loving confederation. SKETCH OF EXPLORATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. SOME time ago, when noticing the publication of Dr Maclachlan's songs by the Ardnamurchan Glasgow Association, we made complaint of the general inaction of other Celtic Societies. We are glad now to find the Cowal Society issuing a very neat and most interesting booklet-a "Sketch of Explorations in Australia, by the late John Mackinlay," a native of Cowal, carefully prepared and judiciously arranged by a good and genuine Celt our excellent friend, Mr Duncan Whyte. The frontispiece is a good likeness of the indomitable explorer, while on the title-page we have a capital wood-cut of his boat on the Alligator River. There are also several other illustrations, including one of a very handsome monument erected to Mackinlay's memory in the colony. The profits from the sale of the book are to be devoted to the relief of the widows and orphans connected with the Society, and we are glad to find that this is not the first successful venture by the Society in the same field. PRINCIPAL SHAIRP A HIGHLANDER. TO THE EDITOR OF THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. DEAR MR EDITOR,-I find in one respect, with considerable regret, that I committed a mistake in my short address last month at our Gaelic Society festival. Speaking of the beauties of the Gaelic language philologically, I stated that "even many learned Lowlanders greatly admired that language, and I gave as examples Professor Blackie, Principal Shairp of St Andrews, Professor Geddes of Aberdeen, and William Jolly, Esq., H.M. Inspector of Schools-gentlemen who, though they were not Highlanders, and had not a single drop of Highland blood in their veins, sought to pry into the origin of languages, and were most enthusiastic in their admiration of Gaelic." I am now satisfied, on the best authority, that I ought not to have included the honoured name of Principal Shairp in this list, he being a gentleman who has undoubtedly genuine Celtic blood in his veins. As a proof of this, I find that his mother was a Campbell, of the house of Auchinbreck, one of the oldest branches of that Clan, and a descendant of the Auchinbreck honourably mentioned in the Legend of Montrose. But still more, his father's mother was Mary Macleod of Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, a daughter of the Macleod of Macleod who lived in the middle of last century. Owing to this connection the learned Principal's father was named Norman. It must therefore be allowed, and allowed with no ordinary pleasure, that Principal John Campbell Shairp has much true Highland as well as Norman blood in his veins. He is not, however, the only Principal who was of this distinguished lineage, for King's College, Aberdeen, had its Principal Macleod, a gentleman of the family of Talisker in Skye, a branch or sept of the Macleods of Dunvegan. Principal Macleod was maternal grandfather to the present Professor Norman Macpherson of the Edinburgh University; and from his connection with the Chiefs of Dunvegan, must have been a relative of Principal Shairp of St Andrews. The Highland connection of this esteemed Principal is thus established, but I am afraid it is hopeless to discover any Highland blood in the veins of the learned and indefatigable Professor John Stuart Blackie, he himself having frequently asserted that he is not, what he would dearly wish to be-a Highlander. Yet his regard for the Highlanders, and for their language, and dress, and songs, and music, is so great, that he has done all in his power to possess as much as possible-to become, as it were, one of themselves. The worthy gentleman is particulary proud of everything Celtic; but were he to appear in the Highland garb, with belted plaid, plumed bonnet, philabeg, dirk, and sword, his alert, elastic frame would not make a very successful representation of Rob Roy on a theatrical stage! The very sight of the learned Grecian thus robed might more than likely cause some astonished Bailie to exclaim, "My conscience!" The excellent Professor has, however, secured for himself the rightful title of a Highland proprietor, and all his friends, who are many, may rest assured that there will never be any cruel evictions from his beautiful property. Long life to the creator of the Celtic Chair! As to the worthy and learned Professor Geddes, whose researches into Celtic literature are so great and so creditable to himself, and whose philological acumen is so worthy of his high talents, my belief is, that he lays no claim to the possession of Celtic blood. The same may be said of our own accomplished Inspector of Schools, Mr William Jolly, than whom no one can be more persevering or can take a greater delight in prying into the arcana of science, or in digging up the radical characteristics of Celtic literature, and of every description of Highland folk-lore.—I remain, &c., INVERNESS. ALEX. MACGREGOR. REGIMENTAL TARTANS, TO THE EDITOR OF THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. London, 15th February 1881. SIR, The papers have lately been full of bitter complaints, owing to the proposals of the Government to abolish regimental tartans. But what at first moved Lord Archibald Campbell to the fray has now degenerated into a squabble as to whether the 42d breacan is, or is not, the Campbell tartan. I have my own views on the subject, but I do not desire to ventilate them now: suffice it to say that many of the statements are, to say the least, rash; as for instance, that in the letter of Mr Campbell of Dunstaffnage, quoted by Lord Archibald in the Scotsman of yesterday, to the effect that he had heard the tartan of the 71st called the Hunting Campbell. I am aware that the Macleods and Mackenzies claim the same plaid, but I did not know before that Lord Macleod, son of the attainted Earl of Cromarty, was one of the Siol Diarmaid! But let us endeavour to lift the subject out of the Slough of Despond into which it has fallen in the columns of the daily press, and in doing so, impress upon every Highlander, at home or abroad, the absolute necessity of protesting against one of the most gratuitous outrages ever practised upon the feelings of a high-spirited people. The other night, at a meeting held in the Hall of the Scottish Corporation of London, I called the attention of the reporter of the Daily Telegraph to the following passage in the celebrated Disarming Act : "And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the First Day of August, One thousand seven hundred and fortyseven, no Man or Boy, within that part of Great Britain called Scotland, other than such as shall be employed as Officers or Soldiers in His Majesty's Forces, shall, on any pretence whatsoever, wear or put on the clothes, commonly called Highland clothes (that is to say), the Plaid, Philebeg, or little Kilt, Trowse, Shoulder Belts, or any part whatever of what peculiarly belongs to the Highland Garb; and that no Tartan, or party coloured Plaid or Stuff shall be used for Great Coats, or for Upper Coats, &c." We have heard of the coercion of the lairds when they drove the Highland cotters from their homes; and we hear the Irish complaining that a Liberal Government is forging the chains of a Coercion Bill, to enable their landlords to bind them hand and foot: these matters are beyond the scope of this letter. But this I do say, that Mr Childers, closely following his leader's steps in the coercive path, wishes to put an indignity upon Highland officers and soldiers, from which they were |